Fabry-Perot optical switch
US6490381B1 · kind B1 · utility
17Cited by
12References
17Claims
0Family size
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 1, 2000 |
| Grant date | Dec 3, 2002 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Oct 19, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04Q2011/0035
- WIPO fieldOptics
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
The absorption of a spacer material in a Fabry-Perot type structure is changed to achieve an optical switching function. In one embodiment, the spacer material is a semiconductor material and an electronic control signal changes the Fabry-Perot between a transmissive state and a reflective state. In the reflective state, the device operates as a switch can be modeled as a mirror on a substrate of quasi-infinite thickness. In a further embodiment, a wavelength-selective optical component is placed between the input of the switch and the Fabry-Perot structure to improve the spectral response of the switch.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.